Americans Increasingly Consider Chinese Car Brands Despite Tensions

A new AutoPacific study finds more Americans recognize and consider Chinese automakers like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, even as national security concerns persist.

Americans are becoming increasingly open to Chinese car brands, despite high tariffs, political tensions, and new restrictions that keep them off U.S. roads. According to research by AutoPacific, 65% of U.S. respondents are now familiar with Chinese automakers, up from 52% last year. Even more notably, 52% said they would consider buying one, compared to 41% in 2024.

Among those familiar with Chinese carmakers, Huawei leads the pack with 27% of respondents saying they would consider its vehicles, followed by Xiaomi at 23% and BYD at 19%. Great Wall Motors earned 16%, while both Geely and Nio drew interest from 13% of respondents.

Concerns about data security and national security remain significant but are slowly declining. In 2024, more than 80% of Americans expressed such worries; by 2025, those figures had dropped to 77% and 79% respectively.

Robby DeGraff, manager of product and consumer insights at AutoPacific, attributes this shift largely to growing media coverage and social media exposure of Chinese cars. Brands like BYD, Geely, Huawei, and Zeekr have gained traction in global headlines and increasingly appear on roads outside China, especially across Europe.

Still, the path into the U.S. market remains uncertain. Washington has raised import tariffs on Chinese-made EVs to 100%, and new rules will ban the use of Chinese-developed software and hardware in connected vehicles starting in 2027.

Even so, awareness and curiosity among Americans are on the rise. Chinese automakers may still be absent from U.S. showrooms, but their presence is already reshaping conversations about the future of the global auto industry.